The Penns Valley girls’ basketball team is turning heads.
The Lady Rams began the season by beating defending PIAA state runner-up Juniata Valley — a team that returned all five starters — in the last seconds at the Ram Dome on Dec. 11.
Bald Eagle Area was next, and yes, BEA has had a difficult time and is rebuilding so a Ram win was not entirely unexpected. But 25-4 at halftime and 54-14 final was a dominating performance nonetheless.
Then at Bellefonte on Dec. 15, Jordan Andrus scored 21 points and Emma Butler, Isabella Culver and Hannah Montminy combined for 25 more as the Rams pounced on the Lady Raiders early and romped to a 58-23 win.
That one was 37-10 at halftime, with the Rams cruising out to their third win overall and second in the Mountain League.
Finally, on Dec. 18 in Philipsburg, PV met up with high-scoring Halle Herrington and the Lady Mounties. Herrington came into the conference matchup averaging 34 points per game, and she got her share with 20 on the night (her season low).
Penns Valley, however, was overall much too strong and easily went to 4-0 with an impressive 72-32 victory. Emma Butler scored 17 points for the Rams, Culver had 16 and Montminy had 14 to lead the Rams.
Last season, PV ran into some unfortunate injuries to key players just as the playoffs were beginning, which somewhat dulled what was by any measure an excellent season.
There is, of course, lots of basketball to play, and judging by the first two weeks so far, the Lady Rams are back strong as ever. Their next action will be in the Williamsburg Tournament beginning Wednesday, Dec. 27.
State College
The State College girls got off to a hot 3-0 record this season, but they dropped their last two games in Mid Penn Conference play and fell to 3-2.
After wins over Forest Hills, Bishop Guilfoyle and Central Dauphin East, SC’s undefeated streak ended with a 49-37 loss at Harrisburg in the conference opener.
In its last outing, Mifflin County came back from an early deficit with a 17-11 run in the second quarter and then held on for a 48-44 victory over SC.
Isabelle Leazier paced the Little Lions with 15 points and Maya Bokunewicz scored 14, but their efforts were not enough to overtake Mifflin down the stretch.
Next up for the Lions will be the annual Kiwanis Tournament in State College beginning Wednesday, Dec. 27.
Bald Eagle Area
Rebuilding Bald Eagle Area is 0-2 and searching for its first win.
After a stinging 54-14 loss to high-flying Penns Valley in their opener, the Lady Bald Eagles showed improvement, at least offensively, against Philipsburg-Osecola in their second outing.
P-O still prevailed, 52-39, behind the 37 points by Halle Herrington, but BEA hung in despite falling behind by 10 points after the first quarter. The Eagles outscored the Mounties 14-10 in the third quarter to get to within nine points, but they couldn’t keep the momentum going and P-O was able to hold on.
Things don’t get much easier for BEA going forward. Before the holidays, the Eagles traveled to Central on Dec. 20, and then to East Juniata on Friday, Dec. 22, after CCG press time.
Philipsburg-Osceola
Speaking of Halle Herrington, she and her Mountie team have been up and down in four games thus far. There were two wins over West Branch in the opener and then the 52-39 win at BEA on Dec. 15. But a very strong Tyrone team came into Philipsburg on Dec. 13 and dominated, 85-54. Herrington had 27 in that game and Lacey Potter scored 11, but Tyrone’s up-and-down speed wore the Mounties down.
Penns Valley followed Dec. 18, and the Rams’ defense took over and led to way to the 72-32 win.
P-O will be at Juniata on Dec. 20, after CCG press time, to try to get back on track, and then the Mounties will play in the West Branch Tournament on Wednesday, Dec. 27, and Thursday, Dec. 28.
Bellefonte
Bellefonte is fielding a very young team and thus far are having trouble getting itself together in the new year. The Lady Raiders are consequently 0-4 as this point.
After two very close losses to East Juniata (42-37) and Juniata (46-45), the Raiders then fell to Mountain League contenders Huntingdon and Penns Valley.
At Huntingdon on Dec. 13, Bellefonte fell behind by nine after the first quarter and then by 15 at halftime (27-12). The Raiders whittled that to 12 after the third quarter, but Huntingdon pulled away down the stretch to come away with the win.
Maddie Steiner and Abbey Bruni had eight points each to lead Bellefonte.
Then, on Dec. 15, Penns Valley and its stifling defense came to visit, and the Rams were in control throughout in a 58-23 conference win. Mal Smith scored 10 points for Bellefonte in the loss.
Bellefonte will be at Clearfield for its next game, and then the Raiders will play in the Selinsgrove Tournament on Tuesday, Dec. 26, and Wednesday, Dec. 27.
St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy
In Boalsburg, the St. Joseph’s Academy Lady Wolves have yet to be even tested and are off to a 3-0 start.
After beginning the year with a 63-2 rout of Grace Prep, SJCA went on to take out Neumann Academy (57-38) and Glendale (57-40). The Wolves have just one senior on their roster, Aubrey Weiss, and are led by juniors Denaya Posten-Cooper and Selena Mann.
Posten-Cooper is averaging just under 17 points per game and has scored 39 total in her last two outings while Mann is averaging 12 and has a season high of 18 against Grace Prep.
Williamsburg will visit St. Joe’s on Dec. 20, after CCG press time, in the last game before the new year.
